Cost of Living Comparison Between Butterworth and Kuching Cost of Living Comparison Between Butterworth and Kuching

😐 Solo nomad: Butterworth is 8.9% more expensive than Kuching without rent, and 7.9% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Butterworth is 14.9% more expensive than Kuching without rent, and 5.2% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Butterworth
Kuching
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.13 MYR 12.36
$2.89 MYR 11.42
8.30%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$20.92 MYR 82.6
$19.78 MYR 78.2
5.76%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.77 MYR 18.85
$4.76 MYR 18.81
0.21%
Cappuccino
$2.97 MYR 11.72
$2.45 MYR 9.69
21.22%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.73 MYR 2.87
$0.70 MYR 2.77
4.29%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.36 MYR 1.42
$0.30 MYR 1.17
20.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.18 MYR 16.50
$2.90 MYR 11.44
44.14%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.39 MYR 17.35
$3.60 MYR 14.21
21.94%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Butterworth
Kuching
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.81 MYR 7.14
$1.87 MYR 7.40
-3.21%
White Bread (500g)
$1.03 MYR 4.06
$1.12 MYR 4.43
-8.04%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.68 MYR 6.62
$1.02 MYR 4.05
64.71%
Eggs
$2.15 MYR 8.50
$2.19 MYR 8.65
-1.83%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.52 MYR 57.4
$9.74 MYR 38.47
49.08%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.77 MYR 18.86
$3.85 MYR 15.23
23.90%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.41 MYR 37.16
$8.02 MYR 31.69
17.33%
Apples (1kg)
$2.88 MYR 11.36
$2.99 MYR 11.80
-3.68%
Banana (1kg)
$1.45 MYR 5.73
$1.10 MYR 4.36
31.82%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.61 MYR 10.31
$2.53 MYR 10.00
3.16%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.53 MYR 6.06
$1.82 MYR 7.18
-15.93%
Potato (1kg)
$1.18 MYR 4.66
$1.12 MYR 4.42
5.36%
Onion (1kg)
$1.17 MYR 4.61
$1.24 MYR 4.92
-5.65%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.95 MYR 3.75
$1.68 MYR 6.62
-43.45%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.46 MYR 1.81
$0.49 MYR 1.93
-6.12%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.27 MYR 16.88
$4.19 MYR 16.56
1.91%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.85 MYR 74.4
$21.67 MYR 85.6
-13.01%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.70 MYR 10.66
$3.88 MYR 15.34
-30.41%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.50 MYR 13.81
$3.49 MYR 13.77
0.29%
🚌 Getting Around
Butterworth
Kuching
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.68 MYR 2.67
$0.25 MYR 0.99
172.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$11.60 MYR 45.84
$11.85 MYR 46.82
-2.11%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.70 MYR 2.75
$0.93 MYR 3.67
-24.73%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.50 MYR 1.97
$1.10 MYR 4.34
-54.55%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$4.66 MYR 18.40
$1.95 MYR 7.69
138.97%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.46 MYR 1.82
$0.49 MYR 1.95
-6.12%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.5K MYR 132.2K
$45.7K MYR 180.7K
-26.81%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.1K MYR 107.0K
$37.0K MYR 146.0K
-26.66%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Butterworth
Kuching
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$39.04 MYR 154
$41.74 MYR 165
-6.47%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.18 MYR 40.21
$8.98 MYR 35.46
13.36%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$26.07 MYR 103
$25.04 MYR 98.9
4.11%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Butterworth
Kuching
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$36.80 MYR 145
$29.52 MYR 117
24.66%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$5.80 MYR 22.92
$9.91 MYR 39.14
-41.47%
Cinema Ticket
$4.92 MYR 19.44
$4.60 MYR 18.17
6.96%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Butterworth
Kuching
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$239 MYR 944
$140 MYR 555
70.05%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,196 MYR 24.5K
$5,993 MYR 23.7K
3.40%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Butterworth
Kuching
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.9 MYR 221
$66.8 MYR 264
-16.36%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.37 MYR 116
$31.50 MYR 124
-6.76%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$62.1 MYR 245
$84.4 MYR 333
-26.44%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$52.3 MYR 206
$71.2 MYR 281
-26.60%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Butterworth
Kuching
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$381 MYR 1,507
$283 MYR 1,117
34.83%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$275 MYR 1,085
$207 MYR 819
32.40%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$632 MYR 2,497
$559 MYR 2,207
13.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$475 MYR 1,877
$390 MYR 1,542
21.71%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,531 MYR 6,046
$2,168 MYR 8,565
-29.41%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$963 MYR 3,802
$1,569 MYR 6,196
-38.64%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Butterworth
Kuching
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$994 MYR 3,928
$546 MYR 2,159
81.98%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.16
4.27
-2.58%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Butterworth: February 28, 2026

Last update for Kuching: March 2, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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